What do you think the penalty for littering should be? The death penalty?
Wealthy people having to pay their way out of an awkward situation caused by their own irresponsibility? I don't know the means of these people but based on where they live, it amounts to the equivalent of a speeding ticket.
Keep in mind, they aren't the only victims of their irresponsibility now. They have had to create this narrative of a bottom feeding couple trying to cheat them out of their street. It's character assassination and it's another reason not to feel sorry for them.
And besides, your idea is non sensical. We should confiscate their property knowing that they have the resources to get it back in order to induce some higher lawyer fees and a pain-in-the-ass factor as some kind of penalty increase? That's bizarre! That's not how government should work at all! It ends up being a waste of time and resources for a lot of people and, as you mention, draws in innocent 3rd parties who end up taking some of the heat.
If we actually wanted a higher penalty for richer people than there should just be a bigger fine or late fee.
YOU are the one defending special treatment. Isn't that what has happened here?! They've successfully lobbied the city to treat them differently than everyone else?
All I was saying is it's harder to feel sorry for them. If you really cared about this issue, I'm sure you could find REAL tragedies that aren't being heard by the city council every single time the city does these tax sales. Like actual families being evicted for "clerical mistakes".